A Florida man and a Tennessee woman have been charged with human trafficking after officials said they enslaved an 18-year-old woman and forced her to work as a stripper.

Vinson Alexander, 30, of Florida, and Taryn Johnson, 27, of Tennessee, were arrested Friday in Southfield.

Alexander "is accused of enslaving a young woman and forcing her to work as a stripper in Southeast Michigan since December 2012," states a press release from Michigan Attorney General Bill Scheutte's office.

Advertisement

Johnson "allegedly recruited the 18-year-old victim, luring her with promises of a good salary."

Alexander collected the victim's earnings and threatened her with violence in order to control her, the release states.

On Thursday, Alexander allegedly assaulted the victim, who was seriously injured, officials said.

Alexander is charged with three counts of human trafficking -- one for forced labor for a commercial sex act, one for forced labor causing serious physical harm, and one for financially benefiting from a human trafficking venture. He's also charged with racketeering and torture. The torture charge is punishable by up to life in prison, while all other charges could bring sentences of up to 10 to 20 years in prison.

Johnson is charged with human trafficking, recruiting for forced labor, a 10-year felony.

Alexander's bond was set at $1 million during arraignment Monday in front of 46th District Magistrate Donna Posey. Johnson's bond was set at $750,000.

Both Alexander and Johnson are scheduled to appear for a pre-exam conference on March 1 and a preliminary exam March 8.

"The Southfield Police Department is committed to working with our federal and local law enforcement partners to eliminate any and all forms of human trafficking in Southeast Michigan," Southfield Police Chief Eric Hawkins stated in the release.

Scheutte also made a statement.

"I'd like to thank the Southfield Police Department for their assistance in this important arrest," he said.

"Human trafficking is a very difficult crime to identify and detect, and we appreciate the diligence of the investigators handling this case."